Grant: Here’s a plan for retooling the Rangers

Solving one problem often creates at least another one, if not more. Decide against signing Josh Hamilton and you have to replace a center fielder and a No. 3 hitter and make sure the lineup stays balanced between right-handed and left-handed hitters.

Decide to try to keep Hamilton and you may end up chasing a ghost all winter without solving any of the other problems (such as filling out the rotation, finding an entire catching unit, improving a bench that was basically nonexistent).

There is a lot of juggling to be done. And you know who juggles: clowns.

So we put our resident Bozo in charge of attempting the Herculean task of addressing and solving all of the problems in front of the Rangers. Inside SportsDay, you can see how I would handle the rebuilding process if I were the Rangers’ general manager.

Is it a blueprint for the off-season? Or does it simplyprovide management — and fans — with a little comic relief? You, and time, will ultimately decide.

Replacing

Josh Hamilton

He wants free agency; he gets it. If somebody offers him $25 million per year for five years or longer — which probably happens — we’re stepping back. Too much money and too much long-term risk.

In the unlikely case that no market develops for him, ownership must let me know if they are willing to bust their projected budget by $25 million-$28 million to pick up Hamilton at the last moment. If he’s sitting out there and all it would take is a three-year commitment, the risk vs. reward situation changes greatly. I can’t be held prisoner by that unlikely scenario and not make any moves but want to be prepared if it does. We’d have to act swiftly then.

To replace Hamilton, I’m turning center field over to a platoon of Leonys Martin (vs. right-handers) and Craig Gentry (vs. lefties) with the possibility that Martin could grow into the everyday role as the season progresses. We have invested $15.5 million in Martin; it’s time to see if he can play. The idea is not to try to replace Hamilton’s power but to add speed and athleticism.

ALTERNATE

POSSIBILITIES

Free agency: While pitching is going to be where the bulk of my free-agent dollars are earmarked, I’m maintaining contact with a couple of free agents. I’ll talk with Scott Boras about Michael Bourn, but I expect him to command the second-highest deal among position players on the market behind Hamilton. That also means he’s likely to wait for Hamilton to sign before he signs. B.J. Upton is represented by Larry Reynolds and, thus, might be a bit more willing to strike a quick deal. The issue with Upton is he’s a right-handed hitter. That would force more juggling with the lineup.

Trades: Boston is willing to talk about Jacoby Ellsbury, and given his talent, I’m willing to listen. But Ellsbury has actually played fewer games per season than Hamilton over the last five years and he’s a free agent after 2013. If the Red Sox want to engage in talks about Derek Holland or any young member of my roster, Ellsbury and lefty Jon Lester, who is coming off a down year, must be in play. I’m confident both players’ performance will pick up outside of Boston.

Starting rotation

This is where I’d like to commit the bulk of our available dollars, which I anticipate to be in the $35 million-$45 million range. The Rangers need two starters to fill out the opening day rotation and more to fill out the eight- or nine-man pool it will take to get through the whole season.

Zack Greinke, who turns 29 on Oct. 21, is the top free agent on the market and is my No. 1 target. I see what guys in the same age and talent range (Matt Cain and Cole Hamels) recently got, and I’m going to have to be willing to at least reach their average of $22.6 million per year over six years. I’m willing to go to $23.5 million over six years for Greinke for a $141 million contract. I’d like to set it up to be “middle-loaded” to allow the club maximum flexibility in 2013 while contracts like Michael Young ($16 million) and Nelson Cruz ($10.5 million) are still under contract. Maybe something along the lines of $16 million, followed by: 26-27-26-25-21.

But Greinke isn’t my only target. I’m also ringing Toronto and inquiring about lefty Ricky Romero, who is coming off a poor year but who has fabulous stuff, is signed long-term and has not allowed a homer in 131/3 career innings in Arlington. He’s a ground-ball pitcher who could be devastating if he brings down his walks.

Toronto could use a second baseman and also has extra catching depth. Is there a package around Ian Kinsler that might help net me both Romero and catcher J.P. Arenicbia? Maybe Kinsler and Justin Grimm along with about half the value of Kinsler’s 2013 salary (which would come to $6.5 million)?

If I can pull the trigger on these deals, I’ve got a potential five-man rotation of Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Zack Greinke, Ricky Romero and Derek Holland. I’ve got Alexi Ogando in the bullpen to start the year and Martin Perez and Robbie Ross apprenticing as starters at Triple-A. And I’ve got the prospect of Colby Lewis for the final third of the season. That gives me at least nine pitchers to work with to get through the year.

ALTERNATE

POSSIBILITIES

Free agency: Greinke is far and away the best option on the free-agent market, but Annibal Sanchez would also hold some interest for me. And I wouldn’t rule out bringing back Brandon McCarthy. I realize he’s not a guy to count on for a full year, but some of these bodies are not going to be full-year solutions. Shaun Marcum might be a righty option.

Trades: I’d certainly touch base with Tampa Bay’s Andrew Friedman and see what it might take to engage in conversation regarding David Price or James Shields. Price is under contract for two more seasons; Shields has an option for 2013. I don’t think the Rays would have as much interest in Kinsler as Toronto might, but I’d have the talk. If the Rays counter with a Price-for-Elvis Andrus offer, it would make me think long and hard.

Catcher

I’m hoping Toronto is interested in talking about a Ricky Romero/J.P. Arencibia package, which would net me my starting catcher for well under $1 million in salary. If not, I’d be calling Cleveland to talk about Carlos Santana, who has supposedly been a disappointment after signing a club-friendly long-term deal.

Still, among guys with at least 250 at-bats at catcher in 2012, Santana’s WAR (wins above replacement value) ranked ninth in baseball. His OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was 15th. He’s a switch-hitter, too. If I had Santana or Arrencibia as a starter and a moderately priced backup (Fort Worth’s Kelly Shoppach?), I’d still have significant dollars to spend elsewhere.

ALTERNATE

POSSIBILITIES

Free agency: There is always the possibility of going back to Mike Napoli on a one-year deal, but that would be expensive ($8 million at the minimum), and Napoli should only be counted on starting 70 or so games behind the plate with the rest at DH or first. And that kind of salary is going to impact other moves. A.J. Pierzynski had the best offensive season of any catcher in the majors and he’s a free agent. He’s also about to turn 36, would probably require $12 million-$14 million and is a polarizing clubhouse figure. Pass.

Trades: Arencibia and Santana are the only legitimate trade options for a starter. Anything else is an even bigger reach. The talent pool at this position is exceptionally thin.

First base/DH

Time for another one of those awkward talks with Michael Young, which seem to happen every two years.

How to put this: “Michael, we’re going to reduce your playing time. We’re going to reduce everyone’s playing time. We expect you to play about 120-125 games with only 20-25 in the field. We know you had a strong September, but we are going to be proactive with the roster and take extra steps to keep everybody fresher.

“If this isn’t acceptable and you want a trade, we will be happy to try to quietly accommodate you, but we aren’t going to pay all or the great majority of your salary while you play for another team. We think you still have value here, but this is where we are right now as a team.”

And after that breakfast, I get on the phone to Dan Lozano, Young’s agent, because he also represents Nick Swisher. I want Swisher to play about 45 games at first vs. left-handed pitching, probably about 50 games in right field and about 30 at DH. I want his switch-hitting bat somewhere in the middle of the lineup. Hitting him third might be asking a lot, but he has decent power and great plate discipline. It might give cleanup hitter Adrian Beltre even more chance to hit with runners in scoring position. And against right-handed pitching, I need somebody to break up the right-handers at the top of the lineup.

It will probably take the bulk of the remaining $12 million-$15 million I have at my disposal, but again, maybe I can “middle-load” this deal to get a little relief early. That might allow me to strengthen the bench and fortify the bullpen.

ALTERNATE

POSSIBILITIES

Free agents: It’s a weak class. The most productive member of the group, Lance Berkman, is expected to retire. If he doesn’t, it’s worth some conversation. That’s a long shot.

Trades: Minnesota would probably be willing to move Justin Morneau and eat some of his contract. Morneau could provide left-handed power in the No. 3 spot, but he hasn’t been the same player since suffering a concussion in 2011. This would be a risk. At this point, you’d have to ask whether you’d get more by playing Morneau every day or Mitch Moreland. I think the difference would be nominal.

Bench

The Rangers can’t ignore the bench as they did in 2012. I’ve got to get a veteran middle infielder who can play second and short to spell both Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar. Maybe Ryan Theriot of San Francisco fits the bill. Maicer Izturis is somewhat attractive, too, though he’s not really a shortstop. Whoever it is, it’s probably coming from free agency and it’s going to have to cost me less than $3 million.

Bullpen

I expect to get Mike Adams back on a contract with a low base salary full of incentives. If that’s the case, I hope to have Tanner Scheppers, Alexi Ogando and Mike Adams all ahead of Joe Nathan. There are some uncertainties there, but there are going to be some uncertainties somewhere. Again, I have about $3 million to spend to upgrade here. Maybe I can push it to $5 million and possibly get in the game for Koji Uehara, but not likely.